1.
INTERNATIONAL FOOD POLICY RESEARCH INSTITUTE
An introduction to the concept of the
Food-Energy-Water
Security Nexus
Stefan Meyer
November 4, 2014
Sunbird Capital Hotel, Lilongwe

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INTERNATIONAL FOOD POLICY RESEARCH INSTITUTE Page 2
Introduction
 Scarcity of food, energy and water worldwide
 Inter-linkages between the three sectors
 Food-Energy-Water Security (FEW) Nexus –
Opportunities and Challanges resulting from
inter-linkages
 Formulating the concept of FEW Nexus

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INTERNATIONAL FOOD POLICY RESEARCH INSTITUTE Page 3
Overview
I. Concept of the FEW Nexus
II. Definition of the FEW Nexus
III. Nexus interventions
IV.Challenges applying the Nexus approach
V. The nexus in Malawi – An example
VI.Conclusions

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INTERNATIONAL FOOD POLICY RESEARCH INSTITUTE
Concept of the FEW Nexus I
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INTERNATIONAL FOOD POLICY RESEARCH INSTITUTE
Concept of the FEW Nexus II
Drivers
Endogenous Exogenous
Direct Direct Indirect
e.g. Good
governance in natural
resource
management
e.g. Rainfall e.g. Exchange rate
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• Drivers affecting the system of food, energy and
water are both outcome and effect.
• Direct vs. indirect drivers
• Endogenous vs. Exogenous drivers

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INTERNATIONAL FOOD POLICY RESEARCH INSTITUTE
Concept of the FEW Nexus III
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 Time horizon: Short-term or medium-term
impacts
 Multidimensionality: Macro (global,
regional and national) as well as micro
(household and individual) level

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INTERNATIONAL FOOD POLICY RESEARCH INSTITUTE
Definition of the FEW Nexus
The FEW nexus encompasses synergies and
trade-offs between food, energy, and water
security which are impacted by endogenous
and exogenous drivers and cannot be
captured if these sectors are analyzed in
isolation.
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INTERNATIONAL FOOD POLICY RESEARCH INSTITUTE
Nexus interventions
 Definition of a nexus intervention:
The intervention must impact food,
energy, and water security, of which at
least one impact must be direct.
 Interventions often affect endogenous
drivers (e.g. price and availability) which
have a direct effect
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INTERNATIONAL FOOD POLICY RESEARCH INSTITUTE
Nexus interventions - examples
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Percentage on histogram indicates
saving compared to traditional cookstove
Intervention Water security Energy
security
Food security
Conservation
agriculture
Direct:
Improved water
retention of
soils.
Direct: Use of
Machinery
increases fuel
consumption
Direct:
Improved yields
and increasing
diversity
Energy-efficient
cooking stoves
Direct: Less
deforestation
improves water
retention of
soils.
Direct: Less
energy needed
for cooking.
Indirect:
Changes in
cooking habits
and time labor
allocation.

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INTERNATIONAL FOOD POLICY RESEARCH INSTITUTE
Applying the Nexus approach –
General challenges
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 Commonpool resources within the nexus.
 Necessity of specific solutions for property
rights on commonpool resources
 Food, energy and water security are global
public goods
 Lack of global security enforcing
mechansims
 Replace silo approach by a system
approach

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INTERNATIONAL FOOD POLICY RESEARCH INSTITUTE
Applying the Nexus approach –
Challenges for policymakers
 Little incentives due to large barriers for
ministries to collaborate
 Pitfalls of Individualism
 Reasons for cooperation
 Lack of responsibility
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INTERNATIONAL FOOD POLICY RESEARCH INSTITUTE
Applying the Nexus approach –
Possible strategies for policymakers
Nexus policymaking:
 Develop and agree on common goals
 Share responsibilities to obtain goals
 Work together to achieve goals
Nexus gatherings:
 Coordination of non-participating ministery
 Collective resoponsibility by ministries
 Horizontal accountability
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INTERNATIONAL FOOD POLICY RESEARCH INSTITUTE
Applying the Nexus approach –
Challenges for other stakeholders
 Researchers: lack of articulate framework,
time constraints for group processes,
language barriers, publishing concerns
 Private sector: incentive to work on
common problem
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INTERNATIONAL FOOD POLICY RESEARCH INSTITUTE
The Nexus in Malawi - GBI
Water Energy Food
Impact Change in
water
availability
Energy required
for operation
(e.g. Motorized
pump)
Increase yields of
food and cash
crops and diversify
agricultural
production
Kind Direct Direct Indirect
Outcome
(1):
Might increase
water access
Intensive nature
of energy usage
Ecker et al. (2010)
– greater
diversification and
poverty reduction
Outcome
(2):
Could decrease
water for other
stakeholder
Chinsinga and
Chasukwa (2012)
– property rights
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INTERNATIONAL FOOD POLICY RESEARCH INSTITUTE
Summary
 Practical definition of the nexus
 Nexus interventions
 Difficulties implementing the nexus
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INTERNATIONAL FOOD POLICY RESEARCH INSTITUTE
Thank you for your attention!
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